The “finishing touches” are still to come, according to Sarah Bryarly of City Parks, but the new segment of the Midland Trail recently opened between 31st Street and Ridge Road.
The final work will include signs on the trail, as well as a mid-block crosswalk painted onto where the trail crosses from the east to the west side of Ridge, Bryarly said.
The segment's distance is about two-thirds of a mile. Going west, the paved trail follows the south bank of Fountain Creek, then crosses to the north bank on a new pedestrian bridge next to Ridge Road.
A previous segment, west of Columbia Street to the existing trail behind the baseball field in Manitou Springs, was completed earlier this spring. No trail construction is currently planned between Ridge and Columbia.
Work started about a month ago on a third segment following Fountain Creek between 25th and 31st streets.
All three segments - plus a fourth that is yet to be contracted between 21st and 25th streets - are due for completion by October, Bryarly said.
The previously built Midland Trail goes west from the downtown to 21st Street.

Dump & Donate Day
Donations of “gently used” household goods and clothing for Catholic Charities can be dropped off in the Coronado High School parking lot Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to noon.
The seventh annual Dump & Donate Day is organized by Harris Group Realty.
The event will also include:

Blue Star Recyclers, which will accept small appliances, washers, dryers and electronics (including computer components and AV equipment), although a fee will be charged for TVs and monitors because of their lead content.

El Paso County Hazardous Waste, which will take old latex and oil-based paint, houshold batteries and flourescent light bulbs.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department, which will provide a chipper for tree branches up to 9 inches in diameter..
No tires, refrigerators, air conditioners or gas-powered equipment can be accepted. For more information, call the Harris Group at 227-9900.

Increased CSFP at SK
Silver Key Senior Services has recently received permission to more than double the number of clients it serves through the federally funded Commod-ities Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
Under the program, anyone aged 60 or over who meets its financial guidelines can qualify to receive a monthly box of “shelf-stable food to stretch their food dollars further,” a Silver Key press release states.
The nonprofit agency had been authorized to serve 200 CSFP clients; the number has been increased to 450.
For more information, call 884-2300.

50-cent lunch is back
People can buy lunch for a suggested donation of 50 cents Saturday, June 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Westside Community Center, 1628 W. Bijou St.
The lunches will be prepared by volunteers in Woodmen Valley Chapel's mobile kitchen, with all proceeds going to Westside CARES, according to center director Dick Siever.
This will be the center's second CARES fundraiser lunch this spring. Others are scheduled July 9 and 23.
Operated by an action arm of Woodmen Valley Chapel, the center has a cooperative relationship with Westside CARES, an agency that provides emergency assistance to needy people. The Westside CARES food pantry relocated to the center a year ago.
For more information, call the center at 385-7920 x100.

PVNA sales
The Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association is promoting garage sales being offered by more than 20 PV households this Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to association President Ryan Tefertiller, balloons on participant mailboxes will help identify where the sales are occurring.
Pleasant Valley is the neighborhood off 31st Street north of Colorado Avenue.

Mesa Springs sales
The Mesa Springs Community Association is organizing a neighborhood-wide yard sale June 18, starting at 8 a.m.
The requested deadline to be put on the list is Saturday, June 18, according to association President Barbara Novey.
For more information, contact Mesasprings-@gmail.com or P.O. Box 7973, Colorado Springs 80933.
Mesa Springs is west of I-25 between Fillmore and Uintah Streets and east of Mesa Road.